All sound and movement ceased. Patrick voiced what he and MacGregor had previously discussed. “The women need to be called in and briefed. They cannot be left in the dark any longer.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the conference room door was thrown open. Josephine, Raven, Rowan, and... fuck... River walked in. She looked at Patrick for the briefest of seconds before averting her eyes. She never looked back. He would know. He never stopped watching her.
Bran went straight to Raven. “Baby, why are you here? I would have told you everything.”
“Bran,” she whispered quietly, tears clumping her lashes, “we should have been invited to this meeting. We should have known all along that Delton is a predator, not just a stalker.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Bran tightened his arms about his wife, his distress over her safety clear.
Josephine advanced toward the screen. Thomas was out of his seat, watching her every step. “Were you ever going to tell me I was a target, Father?”
“I won’t apologize for loving you, Josephine. Your life means more to me than your anger.” Dean O’Connor was about as blunt as his own father, Patrick thought.
Turning to MacGregor, Jo asked, “Honey?”
Dean and James both leaned closer to their camera. Unsure why Josephine was calling her guard, honey. Obviously frustrated at being so far away.
MacGregor ignored the O’Connors. His sole focus was Jo. “I would have told you. Youaresafe with me.”
“The website? The... the... the pictures of Rowan, River, and me?” Tears started to leak out of the corner of Jo’s wide eyes.
Thomas, uncaring of their audience, whispered, “Do not cry, Josephine. No one, and I mean fucking no one, will touch you.”
Josephine nodded. Satisfied. She sat in his abandoned chair, at ease with MacGregor at her back, and didn’t utter another word.
Rowan was clearly distraught. His father stood at the side of the room like an avenging angel. Rowan looked at his father then. “Hugh?”
He walked to Rowan’s side, obviously wanting to take the youngest Byrne into his arms; his muscles were bulging, and his jaw clenched. “You are safe, Row.” That was the first time Pat had ever heard his father call Rowan by her nickname. “Trust me.” They stared into one another’s eyes for a moment longer before she nodded and sat at the table.
Thomas stood behind Jo. His father stood behind Rowan. Bran had his wife in his arms. Patrick was left staring across the conference table at River. She was standing alone. She should never stand alone. “River.” He couldn’t help but utter her name. Her eyes briefly flicked to his before settling on the window behind him.
“Patrick, I understand you are to travel to Boyle this afternoon,” MacGregor announced.
“I am.” As he never stopped looking at River, he saw her stiffen. She hadn’t known. Her sisters instantly moved to comfort their sister. “I will postpone the trip if I’m needed here.” Rowan briefly shot Patrick a look but didn’t speak her thoughts out loud.
“We are good on men at the moment, and I already sent word to some... freelancers that their presence was needed here in Dublin. However, when your business in Boyle is finished, an extra set of eyes wouldn’t go amiss.”
Patrick looked at Thomas then. “We don’t know if Delton will even come to Ireland, but there is a chance he’s already here. The Tulsa airport is being heavily surveilled. Nothing has pinged the system. Yet.” God, let that piece of shit not be in Ireland, Pat silently prayed,
Please, River, please look at me.She didn’t.
“I won’t rehash what type of psycho we’re dealing with since you ladies have been eavesdropping since...?”
“The beginning,” Jo helpfully supplied. “The girls and I figured something big was happening when all our men were holed up together.”
“Right then, lass,” Thomas grumbled. “Is everyone in agreement with the plan? We bring in more muscle— more eyes. No one, including the men, goes anywhere alone.” He looked at Rowan and Raven before adding. “No sneaking out. Even with a guard. From here on out, everyone needs to know where each other is. Atalltimes. I need everyone’s agreement before the meeting breaks.”
All nine agreed. “And you, Thomas? Will you promise to never be alone?” Jo turned so she could look directly at her guard.
They stared at one another for several seconds before he caved. “I promise.” Other people in the room, especially Jo’s father and brother, were probably surprised at the interaction. Having flown to Ireland with them, Patrick was not.
A few more details were made before the O’Connors signed off. As everyone stood to leave. Patrick tried to catch River’s eye. She was the first to leave. He would go to Bébhinn’s because he had promised. He would stay the five weeks and trust MacGregor and his people to keep River safe... because he’d promised.
Once that five weeks was up, he would never leave her side again.
15
Thanks to Ms. O’Connor emailing her flight itinerary to Mrs. Raven O’Faolain née Byrne, Sam knew Josephine, her guard, and— my, my, my— Patrick O’Faolain left Oklahoma yesterday. Which meant that Patrick didn’t fly to Ireland with his family.
